Cook County, Illinois · checked 13 October 2026
Cook County property tax exemptions you may be missing
An appeal argues your value down. An exemption takes money straight off your bill, and many owners who qualify don't get them. If you missed one, you can usually claim it back for past years too.
The exemptions
| Exemption | Who qualifies | Renews? |
|---|---|---|
| Homeowner About $950 a year on average | You own the home and live in it as your main residence | Yes |
| Senior | 65 or older, and you own and live in the home | Yes |
| Senior freeze Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze | Qualify for the senior exemption, and household income of $65,000 or less (2024 income for the current form) | File every year |
| Persons with disabilities | You're disabled, or became disabled during the tax year | Yes (new state law) |
| Veterans with disabilities | Service-connected disability certified by the VA; amount depends on the rating | File every year |
| Returning veterans | Returned from active duty in an armed conflict | File for each year of return |
| WWII veterans | Served in the US Armed Forces between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946 | Yes |
| Long-time homeowner | About 2% of owners: long residence, income limits and a big assessment increase. Applications are mailed to likely owners | File every year |
| Home improvement | Up to $75,000 of added value from improvements isn't taxed for up to four years | Automatic |
How to check your bill in two minutes
- Find your latest tax bill (second instalment bills were mailed 1 September 2026) or look up your PIN on the Assessor's exemptions page.
- Look at the exemptions listed for your property. If you live there and "Homeowner" isn't shown, you're paying too much.
- If you're 65 or older, check for "Senior" and, if your household income is $65,000 or less, "Senior Freeze".
Missed one? Claim past years
The normal filing window for 2026 has closed, but the Assessor accepts missed exemptions through a certificate of error. Right now that covers tax years 2021 to 2025 (2024 and 2025 for the WWII veterans exemption). Apply online on the Assessor's site with proof of ownership, residence and, where needed, age, income or disability. If approved, you get a refund for the years you overpaid.
New owners should apply as soon as they move in, since exemptions don't transfer from the seller.
Exemptions plus an appeal
They work together. An appeal lowers your assessed value; exemptions then come off what's left. If your notice went up this year, check both: see which townships can still appeal.
Check if my home is over-assessed
Source: Cook County Assessor, Exemptions, read 13 October 2026.